MANHOOD SHORT STORY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADE 12
MANHOOD BY JOHN WAIN
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Extract A
“When do they pick the team?” Mr Willison asked. “I should have thought they’d have done it by now.”
“They have done it,” said Rob. He bent down to pick up his socks from under a chair.
“They have? And you —”
“I wasn’t selected,” said the boy, looking intently at the socks as if trying to detect minute differences in colour and weave.
Mr Willison opened his mouth, closed it again, and stood for a moment looking out of the window. Then he gently laid his hand on his son’s shoulder.“Bad luck,” he said quietly. |
Related Items
- To which sports team is Mr Willison referring in line 1? (1)
- Mr Willison opened his mouth, closed it again, and stood for a moment looking out of the window
Choose the correct word to show Mr Willison’s feelings when he says. ‘Bad luck’.- Pleased
- Disappointed
- Furious
- Disinterested (1)
- Why does Mr Willison insist that his son train as a sportsman? Give two reasons for your answer. (2) [4]
AnswersThe rugby team ✓ (1) B Disappointed ✓ (1) He wants his son to be a strong man. He wants his son to have a chance to build himself up physically because he never had that opportunity when he was young. ✓✓ (2) [4]
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Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Extract B
Mrs Willison did not lift her eyes from the television set as he entered. “All ready now, Mother,” said Mr Willison. “He’s going to rest in bed now, and go along at about six o’clock.” I’ll go with him and wait till the doors open to be sure of a ringside seat.” He sat down on the sofa beside his wife, and tried to put his arm round her. “Come on, love,” he said coaxingly. “Don’t spoil my big night.”
She turned to him and he was startled to see her eyes brimming with angry tears. “What about my big night?” she asked, her voice harsh. “Fourteen years ago, remember? When he came into the world.”
“Well, what about it?” Mr Willison parried, uneasily aware that the television set was quacking and signaling on the fringe of his attention, turning the scene from clumsy tragedy into a clumsier farce.
“Why didn’t you tell me then?” she sobbed. “Why did you let me have a son if all you were interested in was having him punched to death by a lot of rough bullet-headed louts who —”
“Take a grip on yourself, Grace. A punch on the nose won’t hurt him.”
“You’re an unnatural father,” she keened. |
- Where are Mr Willison and his son planning to go at six o’clock? (1)
- Why does Mr Willison say it is his “big night”? Give TWO reasons for your answer. (2)
- What happened on Mrs Willison’s big night? (1)
- What is Mrs Willison’s attitude at this stage? Give a reason for your answer. (2)
- Whom do you think is right, the father or the mother? Give a reason for your answer?
- Answer TRUE or FALSE and give a reason for your answer: Mr Willison’s big night is successful. (2) [9]
Answers- They are planning to go to the boxing tournament at his son’s school. ✓ (1)
- He has been looking forward to watching his son take part in a sports tournament. ✓ He wants his son to be a good sportsman. ✓ (2)
- Her son Rob was born. ✓ (1)
- Mrs Willison does not want her son to box because she thinks it is dangerous. ✓✓ (2)
- The father is right because it is important for boys to do sports if they want to be proper men. ✓
OR
The mother is right because the father is forcing the child to do something dangerous. ✓ (1) - FALSE - His son was lying as there is no boxing tournament. ✓✓ (2) [9]
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